Refrigerator



June 7 1927.

J. B. oTTENHElMx-:R

REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 5, 1924 In/neuke@ f' ly collected in tion.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES JACOB B OTTENI-IEIMER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

BROS. INC., OF BALTIMORE,

i,631,883 PATENT, oFFice.

A SSIGNOR TO OTTENHEIMER REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No..747,"596.

This invention relates to refrigerators and particularly' to large ice boxes. used 'chiefly by butchers.

In suchrefrigerators the rack or frame which holds the ice is generally known as the ice bunker, and in order to secure the best circulation and also to economize space this bunker is customarily mounted in the top ofthe refrigerator; that is, directly abov-e the refrigerated chamber'. There must be a free circulation lof air from the refrigerated'chamber to the top of the ice bunker and thence downward through the bunker back to the refrigerated chamber. rlhere must also be means to collect and drain away the water resulting from the melting of the ice and the drains for this water must be simple in form and accessible, as they must be frequently wiped out.

In the better types of construction the ruse of gutters is avoided as far as possible, and this means that the water must be allowed to drip from certain of the higher portions of the structure downward until it has finalthe bottom drains of the bunker. This dripping water has a tendency to splash through the air passages, an the purpose of the present invention is to provide a baffle structure which is readily l applicable to existing types of refrigerators,

which will arrest all splash, and which willl .f

not interfere seriously'with the air circula- Generally stated, the invention contemplates the use of baffles formed of woven wire screen material mounted inthe air passages. I'prefer that these screens be readily removable and that they may be so located that they drain directly into the gutters. The preferred embodiment ofthe invention as applied to a known type of butchers ice box is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the refrigerated chamber showing the ice bunker;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The walls of the refrigerated chamber are illustrated at 6 and extending from wall to wall are sills 7 on which the ice bunker is supported, The bunkeris formed with two cept that each is provided with vinto the gutters .tends at its edges tion where it is inwardly inclined bottom portions 8 whose construction is not material to the invention except that they arelspaced at their opposed edges to forman air port or slot 9 and exa drain gutter 10 at ornear its lower edge. VThe bottom members 8 and the Igutters 10 are sheathedv with sheet metal 11`so as to render them watertight.' The gutters 10 are so located that aman standing in the refrigerated chamber Ibelow the ice bunker can reac up through the air port 9 into the gutters 1() so that the gutters are readily accessible for cleaning. 'y

yMounted on the sills 7 isa longitudinal ridge piece 12 which is centered overl the yopening 9' and which carries a roof or umbrella structure 13 whose edges overlie the two bottom portions `Spf the bunker and hence assurerthat any water flowing' from the umbrella portion will be discharged upon the bottoml members 8- andflow thence 10.r In order to render the umbrella section 1.3 water-proof and in order also to provide a well-defined drip strip, the umbrella section 13 is sheathed with sheet metal on its upper face, andfthis metal exbeyond the umbrella secbent so as'to project downward and outward, forming a drip strip 14. Mounted onthe bottom members 8 are two side wall members 15 which are spaced from the wall 6 to afford passages 16 for the/upward flowlof the circulating air. f Supported partly on the filler pieces 1,7 and partly on the Vumbrella. vstructureV is a grating upon which the ice rests. The-icel is confmedlaterally by slatted frames 19l carried by the walls and by similar slatted frames 20 mounted in a vertical position at the ends of the ice bunker.

An ice bunker constructed as just described oers highly desirable air circulation, and since it is devoid of rall gutters except the two gutters 10 which are easily accessible, is easily kept clean and sanitary. The drip from the drip strip 14, however,

occasionally causes a splash which passes. the refrigerated through the opening 9 into chamber below. It is not desirable to provide gutters in they would be difficult to clean.

The enlargement ofthe umbrella section 13 is not desirable for the reason that it tends to obstruct the circulation, The present inlieu of the drip strip 14, forl ift.

- movable and so facture is vention solves the diiliculty by suspending from the umbrella section 13 woven wire screens which may conveniently be composed of twelve mesh to sixteen mesh bronze wire mounted in metal frames,\though wire of other meshes and different mountings therefor obviously are suitable for the purpose.

These frames 2l. are mounted on hooks 22V attached to the lower side of the umbrella section 13 in such position that the frames 21l hang below the upper margins of the gutters. 10.

This idea of mounting the screen directl y above the gutterpermits the screen to be loosely mounted so that it is readily rethat precision in its manunot essential. Furthermore, water dripping `from the screen is immediately collected by the gutter and drained away, a point which is of substantial importance since it is desirable to keep the ice box as dry as possible.

The construction is simple and inexpensive, and is very effective yfor its purpose. lt permits the elimination of all gutters except the two at theextreme margins of the drain pan or bottom section, and yet prevents any splash occasioned by drip from lthe umbrella section.

vWhat is claimed is:

l. The combination of a chamber to be refrigerated; an ice support mounted in the upper portion thereof; an inclined draining bottom beneath a portion of said support, said bottom having a water collecting gutter adjacent its lower edge and there being an air port for directing air past the lower edge of said draining bottom; a Vwater shedding baille overlying' saidport and overhanging a portion of said bottom to shield said air port from the direct passage of water; and a splash arresting screen mounted beneath said water shedding baille in the path of air flowing to said air port, the lower margin of said screen projecting into said gutter below the upper margin of, and out of contact Vwith the walls of, the gutter. l

2. The combination of a chamber to be Iforaminous4 screen overlying said air collecting gutter from the lower side .said screen extending lacross substantially the entire interval between said lb'aiile Vand bottom. X :iy

3; The combination of a ychamber tobe refrigerated; an ice support mounted in the of said support,`

upper portion thereof; two reverselyrin-V clinedV drain members below saidv supportV spaced apart to form an intervening airport and having gutters near the edges which define said `air port; anv umbrella structure charge water to said drain members; 4and splash screensof line mesh material removably mounted in substantially vertical positions beneath said umbrella extending fromthe latter substantially to a corresponding drain member, but out lof contact with said drain members.

4. The combination of a chamber to vbe refrigerated; an icesupport mounted inthe upper portion thereof; two reversely inclined drain membersV below said'support spaced apart to form an intervening air port and having gutters near the edgeswhich de` i p an umbrella structure overlying said air port and'arranged to dis Y line said air port;

charge water to said drain members;4 and st-ructure ,and

port and arranged todissplash screens of line mesh material rele'as-` ably suspended beneath said umbrella structure and extending downward from the latter into said gutters, but out of contactwith said drain members.

In testimony whereof name to this specilication.

I' have ,signedy my 1 Y JACOB B. OTTENHEIMER; 

